Author Archives: Paul Golder

Mouth-watering food and drink programme confirmed for Standon Calling 2018

The Cooking Cooks

 

PATTY & BUN PRESENTS ‘PATTY PARTY’, BORN & RAISED, WINGMANS,
KERBISHER & MALT, NAZARI, MAKATCHA, BARNABY SYKES PIES,
OH MY DOG, THE MAC FACTORY, HAPPY MAKI, ELEPHANT JUICE, WAFFLE ON, LE BAO, GHETTO GRILLZ, OTHER SIDE FRIED + MORE

 

GEORGE EZRA, BRYAN FERRY + PALOMA FAITH LEAD AN INCREDIBLE MUSIC LINEUP ACROSS MULTIPLE STAGES

 

A WEEKEND OF PHENOMENAL MUSIC, DELICIOUS FOOD & DRINK,
UNRIVALLED ENTERTAINMENT AND FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY

 

FIFTH TIER TICKETS NOW ON SALE AND AVAILABLE AT

 

Revered as one of the most celebrated festival weekends in the UK, Standon Calling is serving up more than just sensational music, captivating entertainment for all ages and an unmatched atmosphere – there’s also the small matter of mouth-watering food and drink served up by some of the most creative and acclaimed names going. 2018 is no different.

 

Offering a unique taste and sizzling flavour at every turn, with a range of Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free and other dietary options available – Standon Calling brings the best in UK street food to campers front door, with a stunning selection for all to tuck into across the July weekender.

 

The Festival’s Food Curator, and passionate foodie, Nigel Birch, believes this year’s food line up is “the best and most complete collection of A-list street food traders since festivals began!”

 

It’s easy to see why…

 

 

Patty & Bun’s ‘Patty Party’
Patty & Bun return to Standon with their ‘Patty Party’, earning themselves a bigger and better venue to pump out beats and burgers, providing the perfect place to dance from sundown to sunrise. An indisputable heavyweight in the London food scene, their prime Aberdeen angus beef patties and homegrown British ingredients crafted lovingly into a juicy, one-of-a-kind burger sees queues snaking through Soho. With a cocktail bar on hand too, the Patty Party is bound to be a favourite at Standon Calling this year.

 

Born & Raised
Born & Raised create artisan British pizzas in their converted Land Rover Defender. Head chef Tom Dewey, who trained under Gary Rhodes, built Born & Raised on the concept of fine Italian pizza dough combined with responsibly sourced British ingredients.

 

 

 

Wingmans
A combination of passionate foodies and talented chefs with an ethos of good food with punchy flavours. Wingmans are dedicated to bringing you a brand new chicken wing experience and encourage everyone to #staysaucey! Riding high off a ton of foodie award nominations and wins, get your special chicken-eating gloves on and prepare for amazing wings, buns, burgers and buckets.

 

“Standon Calling always attracts a crowd with great vibes and we get to work alongside an awesome mix of traders. What’s not to love?!”
Wingmans

 

Kerbisher & Malt
Born out of Brook Green in West London, Kerbisher & Malt deliver fresh fish (from sustainable sources), twice-cooked chips, handmade salads, mushy peas and batter for the full experience. No to preservatives, no to food from a packet, no to dirty oil and no to soggy chips!

 

 

 

Happy Maki
Winners of concession of the year 2017, Happy Maki is the food trader everyone is talking about. Enjoy freshly-rolled vegan sushi bursting with fusion fillings, or their super addictive futomaki rolls. This is top class fresh, nutritious and guilt-free pick-me-up food.

 

Nazari
As listed in Time Out’s Best London Street Food, Nazarí draws inspiration from Al-Andalus Moorish cuisine, incorporating the best of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food tradition. Think healthy and colourful wraps, snacks and flatbread dishes.

 

Makatcha
Exceptional Indonesian rendang and Pad Thai from the wonderfully friendly Makatcha team. They return to Standon following their glowing reviews from last year.

 

Oh My Dog
One of the busiest and most popular traders from last year’s festival, Oh My Dog return with an improved offering and more toppings. With popular vegetarian hot dog options and perfect for the whole family, you’ll be going back again and again.

 

We LOVE trading at Standon Calling Festival – it’s so much fun! There’s always a fantastic line up of traders so we know we’re going to leave the festival having made a bunch of new friends.
Oh My Dog

 

Barnaby Sykes Pies
Long-time Standon favourites, Barnaby Sykes Pies offer up delicious handmade pies with chips or mash and proper gravy. Past winners of concession of the year, enjoy the freshly baked, tasty sensation at Standon Calling this year

 

The MacFactory
A dedicated Mac ‘n’ Cheese joint bound to please the fussiest of eaters as well as pushing the boundaries of topping flavour combos! All dishes are cooked fresh to order by trained chefs ensuring the highest quality Mac. The way it should be.

 

A great festival is all about the music and food line up. Standon Calling is an excellent show with loads of great food options, and a great community feel.
The MacFactory

 

Bad Brownie
Offering dangerously good flavours, Bad Brownie have chocolate goodness at their fingertips with some of the most moreish treats the festival world has to offer. From Peanut Butter to Salted Caramel to many more delicious flavours, it’s a sweet treat like no other.

 

Waffle On
Waffle On serves freshly made waffles to order, with a variety of savoury and sweet toppings. Awarded and revered as London’s Best Waffles by the Evening Standard and by Buzzfeed as one of their 21 Street Foods You Must Eat Before You Die – find out why at Standon Calling this year.

 

Le Bao
Le Bao serves up a modern twist on the traditional Gua Bao – a street food staple made from a fluffy soft steamed bun sliced open and filled with braised meat. As yummy as it sounds.

 

Ghetto Grillz
Ghetto Grillz offer a selection of grilled sandwiches, juicy burgers and breakfast bagels.  The salt beef Reuben is the main event, a New York favourite in a squishy Brick Lane bagel.

 

            Le Bao
            MacFactory

 

Other Side Fried
Other Side Fried launched their business from the back of a converted British ambulance, earning their street-food stripes trading at Kerb and Broadgate Market. They knock up some of the best fried chicken bites in London, and they’re bound to go down a storm at Standon this year.

 

The Cooking Cooks
Enjoy incredible, fresh, handmade pasta with your choice of tasty sauces, toppings and flavours. This is the ultimate in quality comfort eating cooked in minutes before your very eyes. A perfect choice for the whole family.

 

BBQ Dreamz
BBQ Dreamz brings Filipino inspired cooking to the streets! Never wanting to fall into the
‘traditional’ and always trying to create the ‘exciting’, they take our favourite aspects and recipes from the Philippines and combine them with other favorites from around the globe. Fun, vibrant and unique!

 

Carboni’s
Free range hog roast  from their Hog Master oven,  steak sandwiches in ciabatta rolls and a great burger from their Josper BBQ, Carboni’s are all about high quality ingredients delivered to meaty perfection.

 

Elephant Juice
Their first visit to Standon Calling, Elephant Juice pride themselves in offering high quality juice using 100% fresh ingredients for a fresh and invigorating taste.

 

 

Flying Machine Cafe
Ethically sourced and bursting with flavour, fun and favourites – the Flying Machine Cafe will offer a space to sit, relax and feast on some home comforts to power you through the festival weekend.

 

Carnival Coffee
Standon Calling  just wouldn’t be the same without Steve and his Carnival Coffee crew. They’ll be offering a full menu of artisan coffees and hot drinks in the main arena and Village Green 24/7.

 

Toastie
Come rain or shine, whether it’s at the crack of dawn or the middle of the night, Toastie will be serving those delightful warm fillings to all, offering classic flavours and sensational quality.

 

The Village Deli
Hot and crispy scotch eggs, delicious all-day breakfast and more – The Village Deli is a home away from home at Standon Calling – ensuring festival-goers are packed with enough fuel for the weekend ahead. Situated in the Village Green, it’s an essential stop for all.

 

Kitty’s Cake Emporium
Kitty will be serving dreamy cakes from the “Pink Lady” – a lovingly decorated truck with a beautiful Alice in Wonderland twisted tea party theme.. Easy to spot from a mile off, Kitty’s is fast becoming an integral part of the Standon weekend. Perfect for a Sunday afternoon treat.

 

Jimmy’s Ice Cream
If you’re after an incredible scoop of homemade ice cream – head to Jimmy’s and he’ll sort you out!

 

This stellar line up of tastes, flavours and quality cooking from around the world will filter across an incredible festival weekend from start to finish. Lead by headline sets from Bryan Ferry and Paloma Faith, along with a homecoming performance by local Hertford sensation George Ezra, it’s the perfect escape of fun and frivolity.

 

They’re joined by established titans Goldfrapp, The Horrors, Django Django and Maribou State along with innovative and fresh live favourites Tokio Myers, Little Simz, The Amazons, Marmozets, Pale Waves, Shame, Ibibio Sound Machine, Dream Wife, Tom Walker and Confidence Man. The Cuban Brothers are also set to perform a special 20th Anniversary Show, making Standon Calling an unrivalled weekend of varied and thrilling music for all. With family fun from Horrible Histories Live and Andy Day & The Odd Socks, award-winning comedy from Lucy Porter, Seann Walsh and Kerry Godliman and much more, Standon Calling is unlike any other festival this year, and a standout of the summer festival season.

 

Standon Calling is the full 360-degree festival experience. It is the biggest dog-friendly festival in the UK with an inimitable Dog Show, you can enjoy a mouth-watering array of stellar Food & Drink from London’s very best street food favourites, take a dip in the heated Swimming Pool, relax in the Hot Tubs or take part in a whole range of Wellbeing Classes and Workshops. Standon Calling is a trip into something more and an invitation for everyone to escape the world around them.

 

Now in its thirteenth year, Standon Calling offers a welcoming embrace to a weekend of music, arts, fun and pure festival joy. With an ever-growing and loyal audience from around the country, it’s a calling to an unparalleled and down-to-earth celebration that once a year pulls a community together. Nestled in the stunning Hertfordshire countryside, it’s an easy-to-reach voyage into something truly special. At Standon Calling they dare to be different, with a purposefully eclectic, inclusive and creative programme, carefully curated to reflect the unique interests of the crowds that gather year after year in its fields.

 

The perfect home for summer memories, Standon Calling is a defining beacon of the British festival experience.

 


The one and only 90s chart topper Chesney Hawkes back in the studio

Paul Golder writes for the Brentwood Gazette

The Phoenix FM studios had a visit from 90s chart-topper Chesney Hawkes last week – just 16 years after his last one!

Chesney came in to see us back in February 2002, when we were broadcasting under a restricted FM licence for just 28 days a year. At that time we had a tiny studio in a room in Hutton Poplars Lodge in Shenfield. Chesney came down during our FM broadcast that year and played some songs live in the studio.

This time he was in town for rehearsals for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which took place last weekend at the Brentwood Centre. Chesney talked to our presenter Scott Ross about his musical and theatre careers and what people could expect to see and hear from him. The interview can be heard again on our website at phoenixfm.com, where you can also hear an earlier interview he gave to our Saturday morning presenter Naomi Sayers on the phone a couple of weeks ago.

As you can see from the two photos, he hasn’t changed too much over the years! Thanks to Scott who conducted the interview with very short notice and to the team at the Brentwood Centre for helping with Chesney’s appearance.

* Guests coming up on air in the next week include Jessica Kemp from the Beeches talking about National Care Home Open Day and Peter Green and Les Sheppard from the Rotary Club of Billericay who will be talking about this year’s Soapbox Derby.

* There will also be live music in the studio from Ian Perryman, Jessie Dipper and the SoSlam Young Songwriters group.


Playlist for 14 Apr 2018 (AOTW: The Spectors – Ooh Aah Aah)

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Tonight’s album of the week was Ooh Aah Aah from Belgian dreampop/Britpop(ish) band The Spectors.

Ooh Aah Aah is their second album and it’s out now. You can find out more about them on their Facebook page.

Tonight’s playlist:

Shed Seven – Getting Better
Spectors – Borderline
Gaz Coombes – Walk The Walk
Everglows – Sunshine
Asylums – When We Wake Up
We Are Scientists – Your Light Has Changed
Interrobang – Based On A True Story
Dose – Furniture
GRDNS – Juniper
Belly – Stars Align
Spectors – When The Morning Falls
Sunflower Bean – Burn It
Thousand Yard Stare – Dystopia
Daddy Issues – I’m Not (clean)
Orielles – Old Stuff, New Glass
Moaning – Don’t Go
Jesus Jones – Suck It Up
485C – Kapow!
Darling Buds – Evergreen
Salad Undressed – We’ll Never Meet
Tokyo Police Club – Wait Up (Boots Of Danger)
Heart Throbs – Dreamtime
Spectors – Leader Of The Pack
Tape The Radio – Our Love Is A Broken Heart
Wonder Stuff – On The Ropes
Blab Happy – Tender Hooks
Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine – Alternative Alf Garnett
Blur – Coping
Jocasta – Go
Bluetones – Cut Some Rug
Radiohead – Just
Charlatans – Opportunity


Cultura Brazil – show 191

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Cultura Brazil is Phoenix FM’s show for the Brazilian community in Essex, London and beyond, presented by Ezequiel Cassol.

In this week’s show:
– Brazilians have until May 9 to transfer voter’s title to London
– United Kingdom and Brazil sign agreement in scientific and technological areas

You can hear the show every Sunday evening at 2200 UK time.


A packed programme of songs and great chat gave us an Easter treat

Paul Golder writes for the Brentwood Gazette

Easter is usually a quiet time for us at Phoenix as many of our usual on-air guests disappear for the Easter holidays, but the opposite is true for our Friday Night Extra show, hosted by Patrick Sherring.

Patrick has been on air with us on Friday evenings since September 2011 and rarely misses a show. He’s well known in our community as C of E Rector of Ingatestone and Fryerning,
Chair of Churches Together and a Governor of Ingatestone & Fryerning C of E Junior School as well as being a regular columnist on the Brentwood Gazette!

Every Easter Patrick presents a Good Friday special packed full of guests and this year’s show was no exception.

Tim Lee from Brentwood Churches Together spoke about the celebrations for Good Friday held in Brentwood town centre, with over 400 people and a dramatized re-enactment of the first Good Friday. He also talked about the service he had taken at Mountnessing school about an empty Easter egg.

Brentwood School chaplain Revd Dr Adrian McConnaughie explained about the services for Easter that were held before the pupils broke up for Easter and his time in Ypres the previous week.

Year 6 pupil Alfie sang live and talked about Easter at Ingatestone Junior School, singer Marina Bottali-Price sang three songs live in the studio and talked about her faith, and regular helper Jonty was there too.

Hard to believe you can pack so much into a two hour show! If you missed the show you can hear it again at phoenixfm.com.

* Lots more guests coming up on air in the next seven days including Matthew Sweetapple from charity Step2It, Anne and Frank Woods chatting about the Billericay Streetlife Strollers and solicitor Sandy Brown from Shenfield’s Rainer Hughes talking about parenting and divorce.

* We’ve also got live music lined up from Nicola Collis, Jessie Dipper and Marc Hepburn.


The West Ham Way – show 82

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Welcome to the latest edition of The West Ham Way, Phoenix FM’s weekly round up of all things West Ham!

The show is presented every week by Dave Walker and Kev Slade from West Ham online fanzine Sex Drugs & Carlton Cole with help from serial ITK blogger @exwhuemployee, founder of The West Ham Way website.

On this week’s show Ex (on the phone) joined Dave, Kev and Vince @cenzo147 in the studio to discuss West Ham’s unexpected point against Chelsea, latest rumours from inside the club and answer questions from listeners.

The West Ham Way will be back next week on Wednesday at 7pm. #COYI


Cultura Brazil – show 190

Click below to listen to the show again:

Cultura Brazil is Phoenix FM’s show for the Brazilian community in Essex, London and beyond, presented by Ezequiel Cassol.

In this week’s show Ezequiel talks about the World War II exhibition held at the Brazilian Embassy in London.

You can hear the show every Sunday evening at 2200 UK time.


Playlist for 07 Apr 2018 (EIO40 special – the newies)

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Tonight’s show was the second of two special shows in conjunction with Everything Indie Over 40 – a community for those people who love their old-school indie (and new old-school indie too).

We had requests from a number of the group’s members and I managed to squeeze them all into tonight’s two hour show.

As last week’s show concentrated on oldies we decided to make the second of the two shows a “newies” show – and introduced me to a number of great artists that I don’t usually play, so I think I was the main beneficiary from all the requests!

EIO40 is a website, a Facebook group and a Twitter account. If you love the music I play, go and join them!

Tonight’s playlist:

Ride – Pulsar
(requested by Bill Ainsworth)
From the Tomorrow’s Shore EP which came out in February.

Teenage Wrist – Swallow
(requested by Jeremy P Goldstein)
A band from LA who released their debut album Chrome Neon Jesus on 9 March, and this track is taken from it.

Casper Skulls – Primeval
(requested by Norman Dykstra)
From the Toronto band’s album Mercy Works, a former Album Of The Week here on BOA, which came out last November.

Kindling – Destroy Yrself
(requested by Mark Gurwell)
Kindling are from Easthampton, MA. This song was released as a single on Bandcamp in November 2017.

The Beths – Great No One
(requested by Sandy Wishart )
The Beths are a guitar pop band from Auckland, NZ. The lead singer is called Elizabeth Stokes but I don’t think there are any other Beths in the group! This single was released in Ovetober 2017.

Lake Ruth – One Of Your Own
(requested by William McAlpine)
Band from NYC – this track was released on 16 Feb 2018 on Feral Child Recordings @lakeruthmusic

Daddy Issues – I’m Not
(requested by David Kravitz)
This track is taken from the Nashville, Tennessee band’s Deep Dream album which was released in May 2017.

Black Honey – All My Pride
(requested by Antony Boot)
This track appears on the Headspin EP which was released in 2016.

Last Leaves – Third Thoughts
(requested by Rob Morgan)
Last Leaves are an indie pop band from Melbourne, Australia. This track appears on their album Other Towns Than Ours which came out in October last year.

Scott Gilmore – Walking Underground
(requested by Rob Morgan)
Scott Gilmore is a producer from California and this track comes from the Subtle Vertigo album released in 2017.

Ill – Ill Song
(requested by Richard Culver)
Ill are a Manchester band who originally released this as a single on Bandcamp on Hallowe’en in 2015 – but it will also appear on their debut album We Are Ill which is out on 18 May 2018.

Buffalo Tom – See High The Hemlock Grows
(requested by Ian Blatherwick)
This track appears on Quiet and Peace, Buffalo Tom’s first new album in 7 years which was released in March.

The Spectors – Only You
(requested by Timmi X-Laughter)
New single from the band from Belgium which was released on 23 March.

Hippies vs Ghosts – No Left No Right
(requested by @oblongpop)
HVG are a Welsh experimental indie rock band – this is the title track of their new album which came out in February.

Letters To Cleo – Can’t Say
(requested by Norman Dykstra)
Appears on the Back To Nebraska EP, the band’s first new music in 19 years which came out in October 2016 after a Pledgemusic campaign.

Anthonie Tonnon – Two Free Hands
(requested by Riverboat Captain)
Anthonie is a singer/songwriter from Dunedin, New Zealand. This single was released in October 2017.

Parquet Courts – Almost Had To Start A Fight
(requested by Chöpstick)
This track is from the NYC band’s forthcoming album Wide Awake! which is due for release on 18 May.

The Magic Gang – Getting Along
(requested by Si Farrier)
The Magic Gang are a quartet originally from the New Forest but now based in Brighton. The Times here in the UK recently described them as Britain’s best new guitar band! This track is from their self-titled debut album which came out in March.

Soccer Mommy – Your Dog
(requested by Stephen Williamson)
Soccer Mommy is the stage name of bedroom pop and indie rock musician Sophie Allison. This track appears on her debut album Clean which was released in March on Fat Possom records.

Firestations – Receiver
(requested by Positive Noise)
This track appears on the London band’s debut album The Year Dot which came out today (7 April)!

Beautify Junkyards – Prism
(requested by Pablo Blazaleta)
Beautify Junkyards are a band from Lisbon whose music blends their love of English Acid Folk and Brazilian Tropicalia. This track appears on their album The Invisible World Of Beautify Junkyards which was released in March.

White Room – Stole the I.V.
(requested by Antony Boot)
A Brighton-based five-piece who released this track as a single in May 2017.

National Honor Society – I Am, And Was And Will Be
(requested by @Johnynocash)
The National Honor Society are a band from Seattle, Washington who released this song on Bandcamp back in August.

Say Sue Me – Good For Some Reason
(requested by Mark Whitworth)
A band from Busan, South Korea who I’ve been giving a bit of airtime to over the last few months. This track was released as a split 7″ single back in October with Japanese band Otoboke Beaver on the other side.

Desert Mountain Tribe – Wide Eyes
(requested by Chris. Just Chris)
The current single from this London based alternative/indie rock trio – the first track to be taken from the band’s forthcoming second album, which is due out in the early summer.

Slow Riot – Voyeur
(requested by Paul Foley)
Slow Riot are a four piece band from Limerick in Ireland. This track came out as a single last week.

Laurie Shaw – Breaking Branches
(requested by Darren Jones)
Laurie Shaw is a 23 year old Wirral songwriter and producer who now lives in Ireland. According to his Bandcamp bio, he has released around 75 albums to date, all of which are available on request! This track was released on Bandcamp back in January this year.

Editors – Hallelujah (So Low)
(requested by Jake Palmer)
This track is taken from the band’s 6th studio album Violence, which was released back in March reaching no 6 in the UK Album Charts and the top 10 in several other countries across Europe.

Eat Fast – Scrambled Egg
(requested by David Bruce)
This track appears on the Immortal Kombat EP released in June 2017.

The Shimmer Band – What Is Mine?
(requested by Anthony Boot)
Our final track today was a single released last summer by this Bristol band.


Brentwood runners getting ready for another marathon

The 2018 London Marathon takes place on Sunday 22 April and we take a look at three local fundraisers who will be pounding the streets this year in aid of Saint Francis Hospice.

#TeamSFH runners raise £90,000 per year towards patient care. For more information see https://www.sfh.org.uk/team-sfh.

James Sapwell

If you see a lion running around the streets of Brentwood there’s no need to be alarmed!

Shipbroker James Sapwell experienced the thrill of the London Marathon in 2016 and he’s roaring to do it all again in April dressed as a big cat – in honour of Saint Francis Hospice and its mascot Frankie.

James, 27, first ran the Virgin London Marathon in 2016 in memory of his best friend Jack Baxter’s dad, Dave Baxter, who was cared for by the charity before he died of Malignant Melanoma in 2013.

James, from Brentwood, was part of Team Dave Baxter and proudly ran alongside Jack, and three of their friends.

This time James is going the 26.2 mile distance alone on Sunday, April 22, but he has the fabulous support of his friends and family who will be helping him to raise as much money as he can for the charity.

“It is always a pleasure to do something that means other people can benefit from Saint Francis Hospice’s services and I don’t think we will ever stop,” said James, who served as a Brentwood Borough councillor from 2011 to 2015.

“The London Marathon is such an amazing experience. It is the only time the average person can feel like a professional athlete as people scream your name as you run through the streets of London, which is the best city in the world!”

Luke Harman

Luke Harman is making his first ever marathon one to remember by celebrating turning 30 just three days before the iconic race.

But it is much more than just a personal challenge for Luke! He is running in memory of his godmother Frances Garrett who was cared for by Saint Francis Hospice before she died of breast cancer in 2000.

“She was my mum’s best friend, and although she wasn’t direct family, she was still family,” said Luke, who lives in Brentwood and works as a Partnership’s Manager at the Football Association.

“It means everything to be running for the hospice as it’s something I’ve always wanted to do.

“It’s bigger than just me; it’s about raising money and awareness for the charity.

“I am excited as it will be a proud day for me, but there’s also the fear of the unknown and not knowing what’s coming.”

“I’m going to try and keep positive all the way round, and if I hit the dreaded wall, I’m going to try and remember why I’m doing it and what I’ll achieve at the end of it.”

Sarah Hockley

Volunteering at Saint Francis Hospice inspired Sarah Hockley, 21, to step outside her comfort zone and take on her first marathon!

Sarah’s initial contact with the hospice was through her mum Janet who works for Hetheringtons, a real estate agents in Hutton Road, Brentwood, which are big supporters of the charity.

This led to Sarah taking time out to volunteer at the hospice and even going the extra mile by signing up for the London Marathon so she could raise awareness and funds for its specialist care and support services.

“I’ve never done anything like this before so I just want to finish and enjoy the day,” said Sarah from Brentwood.

“Sporty events have never really been my thing but after volunteering at the hospice last year I’m eager to get involved a bit more. This is my next challenge and my chance to raise some serious money for the hospice.”


How we helped inspire music-loving youngster with a visit to our studio

Paul Golder writes for the Brentwood Gazette

A few weeks ago we received an email here in the studio from Toni Richardson. Toni is mum to her son Taylor.

Toni said in the email, “I wonder if you can help. I have a 17 year old son called Taylor, who has Cerebral Palsy. He loves his music and dancing and I wonder if it is possible to arrange a visit to look around your studios”.

Well we were very pleased to arrange this and Taylor and Toni visited our studios in the Brentwood Centre and thoroughly enjoyed their visit. Presenter Bob Simpson gave them each a Phoenix FM Mug and played some of Taylor’s favourite music on air as well as a special message for Taylor from Rizzle Kicks, one of Taylor’s favourite bands.

If you search Youtube for “Down With The Trumpets Taylor D” you can see an amazing video starring Taylor with a contribution from Rizzle Kicks themselves.

Taylor’s mum was very grateful and in a later email to Phoenix said, “Just got back home and wanted to say thank you so much for your time today. We both really enjoyed the experience! It was lovely to meet you and it was fascinating learning a little about how a radio station works. Taylor has been full of it and says that he wants his own station now!!”

* We’ve got lots more guests lined up over the coming week. Jane Merrigan will be talking about the latest fundraising events for Saint Francis Hospice, Michael Torry will be talking about his charity show for Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice and Gavin Perrett from Hawkhurst Alternative Investments will offer up investment advice.

* There will also be live music in the studio from Ollie Lincoln, Pondering Hiker and Timely Bloat.